For some reason I’m somewhat sheltered from troll attacks directed at me personally, I only see them if I look to see who’s responding to my tweets. They’re mostly positive and from people who don’t follow me. It shows I’m reaching out beyond my 25.6k following but there are others with an even greater reach who appear to be unable to make even the most innocuous tweet without trolls coming out from under every rock! I can name three that I call troll magnets – Chris Williamson, Jackie Walker and Jeremy Corbyn – but there are undoubtedly others.

This is no reflection on them, it just shows the ignorance that prevails on social media, although I’m not sure it’s merely ignorance which can be excused and possibly corrected. But how do we differentiate between those who are honestly deluded and those who knowingly spout vile propaganda? The only solution is to give them a sharp reply, and not be too polite about it as they’re not paying much attention, then block them and move on.

One thing that puzzles me is why someone like Chris Williamson would appear on a show with Julia Hartley-Brewer. I watched a clip of the “interview” – there was no pretence at dialogue, it was a monologue that quickly deteriorated into a rant! Chris can generally hold his own with the best, or worst, of them. It’s because he’s so outspoken that he’s become a troll magnet.

I can say the same for Jackie Walker. The three of us have said exactly the same thing and our tweets have been liked many time, mine less so as I’m not so infamous but noteworthy nevertheless. I’m also not being trolled as much, at least as far as I’m aware, but some people have it in for me. I don’t know if Chris or Jackie were blocked by Andrew Neil as I was, they said exactly what I said and got far more likes and retweets but they didn’t call him a moron 😅

I just achieved a personal best with my response to Paul Mason’s tweet. It wasn’t a record for that tweet, that honour goes to James Foster who shared a Morning Star article disproving Mason’s assertions, but my reply was an original comment. Skwawkbox provides links to our tweets.

Exclusive: listen to Paul Mason’s pro-Starmer/Israel meltdown in full https://skwawkbox.org/2024/03/26/exclusive-listen-to-paul-masons-pro-starmer-israel-meltdown-in-full/

My response has now surpassed Mason’s tweet for likes and retweets. I can’t claim to be troll magnet although I did have to mute or block several Zionists to avoid fruitless arguments, but they were outnumbered by the new followers I gained 😀

What can I say about Jeremy Corbyn? He’s had a target on his back since he was elected leader of the Labour Party and neoliberal sycophants are so obsessed with him that they won’t pass up any opportunity to malign him! I don’t know how he maintains his equanimity. Very few us who admire him and support what he stands for can be as polite when responding to criticism and he continues to endure abuse years after he ceased to be leader of what was the Labour Party. I dislike swearing on social media but I find I’m doing it more often lately, it seems the only appropriate response to some idiotic tweets.

I’ve named three people I regard as troll magnets but it could be any us who dares to speak against the status quo with a loud enough voice. Dr Julia Grace Patterson is another but I’ve chosen to write about her in a separate blog. We have one thing in our favour: We are many, trolls are few!